IceMen join with police, schools to combat bullying

EVANSVILLE - The Evansville IceMen, in association with the Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., launched an outreach initiative Monday to help students recognize bullying.

"Bullying is not just being popped in the nose. There's so many different ways to be bullied in this day and age. People hide behind computer screens and smartphones, and they get on Facebook and Twitter. And the consequences, they can be drastic," said Brian Patafie, Evansville IceMen athletic trainer and physical therapist, during a news conference Monday at the Ford Center.

To educate sixth, seventh and eighth graders on what bullying is and what they can do if bullied, the one-hour program is available for presentation at any school in the Tri-State, Patafie said.

The message, in short, is, "Stop, talk and tell." After every presentation, students will have a chance to ask questions and will be given a blue wristband with the message "No More Bullying."

Patafie, who is championing the initiative, shared his story on how he was bullied from kindergarten to middle school for his speech impediment, and how one teacher helped him overcome it.

This isn't Patafie's first time targeting bullying. He was the chairman for the Ottawa 67's hockey club's anti-bullying program in the early 2000s, where he spoke at hundreds of schools in Ontario on bullying.

The initiative has the support of more than 20 local businesses.

Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin said the police department had already targeted bullying as one of its areas of focus this school year, and said it would lend its support however it could.

Bolin, who spent years working at Bosse High School, said bullying is now following students home.

Patafie said the presentation will encourage students to seek the solace and advice of their teachers.

"Teachers and faculty are their best friends. They are there for them," he said.